Summary

RJ Harvey was drafted in Round 2 (#60 Overall) in the 2025 NFL Draft out of University of Central Florida (UCF). With the Golden Knights, Harvey posted back-to-back elite seasons in the Big 12: in 2023 he rushed for 1,416 yards and 16 TDs, and in 2024 he followed with 1,577 rushing yards and 22 rushing TDs, adding 3 receiving TDs for 25 total touchdowns. He earned First-Team All-Big 12 (2024) and finished his UCF career with 3,792 rushing yards (6.5 YPC), 43 rushing TDs, and 48 total TDs, a UCF record. As a rookie in Denver, Harvey immediately worked into the rotation and produced 500+ rushing yards with 7 TDs, showing early-down usability and red-zone value. An “older” rookie, Harvey is consistently described as mature, driven, and professional, with a reputation for strong work habits and leadership reinforced by academic achievement and the way he handled a high-usage role at UCF.

Strengths

• Explosive Burst: Quick acceleration through creases and hits the hole with urgency and pace. Sees and reacts quickly and minimizes wasted movement behind the line.

• One-Cut Efficiency: Decisive, downhill runner who thrives when pressing the line and planting once. Reads leverage well and anticipates cutback lanes, making him especially efficient in zone concepts.

• Pay Dirt Maverick Natural scorer with strong instincts near the goal line. Runs with intent, embraces contact and finishes runs with physicality.

• Slippery: Stays upright through arm tackles and keeps his feet and falls forward. Low/compact build helps him absorb contact and maintain momentum through traffic.

Weaknesses

• Pass Protection Consistency: Effort is present, but technique and anchor are glaringly efficient, keeping him off the field for third downs.

• Breakaway Speed: While Harvey’s quick burst is excellent, his top-end long speed may not consistently erase angles. Can be slowed when lanes are compressed and he’s forced laterally.

• Size vs. NFL Workload: Compact frame may require smart usage to manage durability across a full season. More of a quick, decisive finisher than a true pile-pushing bruiser.

• Route-Tree Development: Receiving utility is solid, but he’s not yet a refined mismatch route runner.

Outlook

Harvey fits Denver as a zone-friendly, one-cut runner who can also thrive in gap/duo downhill looks, especially in a Sean Payton offense built around efficiency, play-action, and staying ahead of the sticks. Denver’s commitment to drafting him early on Day 2 reflects expectations that he can become a primary rotation back with legitimate scoring value, and his rookie output (7 rushing TDs) reinforces that he translates immediately as a finisher. Long-term, Harvey projects as a high-impact committee lead back with the upside to handle starter-level responsibility when paired with a complementary power/size runner. If he continues improving in pass protection and becomes a more reliable third-down option, he can evolve into a true three-phase RB who stays on the field in all situations. At minimum, his burst, vision, and TD production profile give him a strong outlook as a high-floor contributor and one of Denver’s most dependable sources of early-down efficiency and red-zone finishing.